Metro church hopes to educate kids on positive relationships with police

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OKLAHOMA CITY - A metro church is hoping to help kids on how to have a positive relationship with police.

With unfortunate events happening too often like officer involved shootings, church leaders say it’s crucial to talk about this now.

Inside St. John Missionary Baptist Church in northeast Oklahoma City, our crews talked to kids who are not afraid to talk about tough topics like officer involved shootings and relationships with police.

"I feel like it should be respectable. I feel like we should all respect each other and cooperate, show a good level of communication," said 16-year-old Ray Robinson.

"If we get a better understanding of each other we'll know how to act towards each other, in the community out on the streets," 16-year-old Michael Williams.

On Saturday, church leaders are hosting an event called "Fall Break Blitz-2016," talking about the stigma attached to officers and members of the community.

"They don't have to be afraid of the uniform for the gun and to not be afraid if they encounter them on the road if they're pulled over or something," said youth minister Debra Johnson.

"There are issues and we're not afraid to address those issues and be proactive," said Oklahoma City Police Sgt. Adam Rosko.

Proactive in ways like going through mock traffic stops or something as simple as talking.

"Come up and talk to us, ask questions," said Rosko.

Teens say the event will help shape their outlook.

"Gives us an opportunity on how we shouldn't jeopardize our future, because at the end of the day, we are the future and we can't help run this nation if most of us are locked up, in jail or don't know how to interact with the police," said Robinson.

"I think we should see the police as, people who do a job to protect us and we shouldn't fear them," said Williams.

The event is on Saturday, October 22nd from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at 5700 North Kelley Avenue.